Video showcases 18th-century Michigan history, research

April 24, 2003

KALAMAZOO -- It's a dirty job, but thanks to a new video by
Western Michigan University researchers, no one else has to do
it.

"In Search of Fort St. Joseph," a documentary produced
by WMU archaeologists and the University's Department of Media
Productions, examines the challenges and triumphs of a research
team that worked for four years to find the structural remains
of Fort St. Joseph. The site was established in 1691 by French
colonists on the banks of the St. Joseph River in what now is
Niles, Mich. The 30-minute VHS presentation offers an up-close
look at what it takes to stage an archaeological dig and the
problems researchers faced when they tried to unearth a site
occupied more than three centuries ago.

The video has drawn praise from archaeology and history enthusiasts
for its footage of the highly technical process that was used
to remove excess water from a 2,200-square-meter area where WMU
anthropologists Dr. Michael Nassaney and Dr. William Cremin believed
the fort was located. Producers Steve Kettner and John MacKenzie,
who collaborated with the archaeologists on the video project,
also thought it was important to include scenes of researchers
using ground-penetrating radar and other sophisticated geophysical
techniques.

The video offers viewers the basics and much more, says Dr.
Dean Anderson of Michigan's Office of the State Archaeologist.

"I particularly enjoyed 'In Search of Fort St. Joseph'
because it answered many of the questions that people commonly
ask of archaeologists, such as 'How do you know where to dig?'
and 'Why do you dig so slowly?'" says Anderson. "It
illustrates not only how excavation is done,

but also how archaeological questions take shape and, importantly,
emphasizes the background research archaeologists conduct before
ever putting a shovel in the ground."

While scholarly in nature, "In Search of Fort St. Joseph"
also showcases the technical prowess of the research team, packs
entertainment value and can be used as a teaching tool.

"This video reveals the most up-to-date, cutting-edge
field techniques used by historical archaeologists-particularly
on sites that are partially inundated by water," says Illinois
State University researcher Elizabeth M. Scott. "We highly
recommend its use in the classroom as well as by professional
and avocational archaeologists."

In addition to capturing the scientific side of the dig, the
video includes historical scenes staged by actors dressed in
French colonial attire. And beyond Fort St. Joseph's architectural
remains, the video features such revealing finds as glass beads,
engraved cutlery handles, a burn pit with dozens of charred corn
cobs that might have been used for tanning hides, handmade nails,
kettle parts, gun flints and musket balls.

"In searching for the fort, many archaeologists might
have gone looking first for the palisades-the wood fence or structure
surrounding the fort," Nassaney says. "We were determined
to find evidence from inside the structure. Our dig site gave
us a small window into the fort."

Fort St. Joseph existed until 1781 and also is known as the
Four Flags Fort, because it was controlled by France, England,
Spain and the U.S. during its 90-year existence. Native Americans
also played a role in the history of Fort St. Joseph, which was
virtually forgotten by the mid-1800s.

Nassaney and Cremin will continue their examination of the
area and its influence on the lives of Michigan's early settlers.
They are working with the city of Niles and Support the Fort,
a nonprofit organization focused on preserving the fort's history.
Sponsors of the video project include Support the Fort, the Fort
Miami Heritage Society and the WMU College of Arts and Sciences.

Copies of "In Search of Fort St. Joseph" are available
for $19.95 each, plus shipping and handling costs, through the
WMU Bookstore at <www.wmubookstore.com/fsj.asp>.
For more information, contact Nassaney at (269) 387-3981 or <nassaney@wmich.edu>.